#166861 zip: big tricks when stdin is different, e.g. emacs M-! command

Package:
zip
Source:
zip
Description:
Archiver for .zip files
Submitter:
Dan Jacobson
Date:
2026-06-05 11:05:02 UTC
Severity:
minor
Tags:
#166861#5
Date:
2002-10-28 19:46:27 UTC
From:
To:
The man page says:

       For a brief help on zip and unzip, run each without speci-
       fying any parameters on the command line.

Well, try this with emacs' shell-command (M-!), we then apparently get
  adding: -PK......[binary jumble]
quite a shock when we are playing with our precious files, and BTW not
options listed on zip or unzip man pages.

If consistent behaviour can't be ensured under all environments, then
say to use e.g. --help instead.
#166861#10
Date:
2002-10-29 10:40:44 UTC
From:
To:
This is documented in the manpage:

       When no zip file name is given and stdout is not a  termi­
       nal,  zip  acts as a filter, compressing standard input to
       standard output.

Why should I consider this as a bug? Should not you, instead, be aware
that when you execute a program from emacs, stdout is not a terminal?
#166861#15
Date:
2002-10-30 00:30:31 UTC
From:
To:
S> On Tue, 29 Oct 2002, Dan Jacobson wrote:

S> This is documented in the manpage:

S>        When no zip file name is given and stdout is not a  termi­
S>        nal,  zip  acts as a filter, compressing standard input to
S>        standard output.

S> Why should I consider this as a bug? Should not you, instead, be aware
S> that when you execute a program from emacs, stdout is not a terminal?

Yes this is a bug: there are 70 lines separating the phrases, and the
user looking for the _brief_ answer will read no further than the
first instance before acting.

3 lines matching "brief\\|stdout" in buffer *Man zip*.
     36:       For a brief help on zip and unzip, run each without speci-
    105:       When no zip file name is given and stdout is not a  termi-
....

therefore make sure it is mentioned together.
#166861#20
Date:
2002-10-30 10:24:19 UTC
From:
To:
Hello.

I have received the following report from the Debian bug system:
[ Please keep the Cc: lines when replying. Thanks ].

Package: zip
Version: 2.30-5
Severity: important

The man page says:

       For a brief help on zip and unzip, run each without speci-
       fying any parameters on the command line.

Well, try this with emacs' shell-command (M-!), we then apparently get
  adding: -PK......[binary jumble]
quite a shock when we are playing with our precious files, and BTW not
options listed on zip or unzip man pages.

If consistent behaviour can't be ensured under all environments, then
say to use e.g. --help instead.
----------------------------------------

I have pointed out to him the following:
----------------------------------------
This is documented in the manpage:

       When no zip file name is given and stdout is not a  termi­
       nal,  zip  acts as a filter, compressing standard input to
       standard output.

Why should I consider this as a bug? Should not you, instead, be aware
that when you execute a program from emacs, stdout is not a terminal?
----------------------------------------

But he still considers it as a bug:

first instance before acting.

3 lines matching "brief\\|stdout" in buffer *Man zip*.
     36:       For a brief help on zip and unzip, run each without speci-
    105:       When no zip file name is given and stdout is not a  termi-
....

therefore make sure it is mentioned together.